When the moon crosses the ecliptic — Earth's orbital plane — it is known as a lunar node. The distance at which thenew moonapproaches a node will determine the type of solar eclipse. The type of solar eclipse is also affected by the moon's distance from Earth and the distance between...
The moons of Mars, Deimos and Phobos, are believed to have been asteroids. They strayed too close to Mars, whose gravity pulled them into an orbital path. The Earth's Moon is believed to have been created in the early solar system by a planet called Theia crashing into Earth. There are...